Inlet means for insulation-covered electric conductors



P. M. MARTIN Jan. 23, 1951 INLET MEANS FOR INSULATION COVERED ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS Filed 001;. 24, 1945 ah M41410; 5 PAUL MARCEL MART/N Patented Jan. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INLET MEANsFOR INSULATION-COVERED sme ma OONBUCTORS Paul Marcel- Martin, Paris, France ApplicationQctobe'r 24, 1945', Serial No. 624,271' InFra-nce June 13, 1944 Section 1, rebut Law 690, August 8,1946 Patent expires June 13, 1964 low pressure chamber or casings containing' 'the amplifying apparatus. 7

In the interior of the outer housing the cen' tral conductor I is stripped of its insulating casing around the inlet opening in the same,

an inlet opening in'the wall of the'closed outer housing through which the end portion of the insulation-covered electric conductor tightly passes and protrudes intothe closed outer housing, a metallic'conductor portion without insulating covering arranged within the closed outer housing electrically-connected with the end portion of the insulation-covered electric conductor and protruding through the inlet opening in the wall of the'closed easing into the same, and a substantially non-compressible insulating substance enclosed within the closed outer housing and completely filling the same.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construe-- tion and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial section of a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial section of a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of an entire repeater housing having similar inlet means as shown in Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional elevations of two more embodiments of the present invention, respectively.

Figure 1 shows an outer'housing according'to the invention. The core of the submarine cable, comprising the central conductor l and insulating body 2, is stripped of its return conductor'3, and protrudes through fluid-tight inlet means such as astuffing box 4 in theouter housing 5, which is 'closed'in by a bell *6 having thin, flexible 'walls andbeing tightly secured'exteriorly bymeans of a joint I 'to'the terminalwal'l 8 of the thick walied body 2.

The outer housing 5 'is'fille'dwitha material which is substantially non-compressible, a good electric insulator, does not attack the various materials contacting therewith, moistens the walls'o'f the outer housing 5 and does'notharden at the temperature prevailing at the bottom of the sea.

This material may be liquid, pasty or plastic. The material'within theouter housing may be heterogeneous, for examplabe pasty in thecenter and liquid near the walls.

Owing to theflexibilityof the wall 6, the material, for instance the liquid filling the outer housing is under apressure" being in nearequilibrium to that of the medium surrounding the outer housing. The stuffing' box 4' being pressed against the insulatingbody 2 of the core-,is therefore not subjected to large pressure differences: it may, for example, be built like an ordinary stuffing box. Its pressure jonthe insulating body 2 is low, the area upon which pressure is exerted is small, and the insulating body will not flow at this point.

The central conductor l is connected at point Ii) to a metallic conductor I I protruding-through an 'inlet opening l2'in the wall 8' ofthe low pressure casing 9. If this wall is electrically con ductive, the opening is stopped by means of a material which insulates the conductor H from the wall 8 and prevents the'liquid in the-outer tions of theinvention to'some types of housings.

Figure 2 shows the entry of the two parts of a submarine cable into the housing-of a rigid repeater, i. e., a repeater having its amplifying apparatus accommodated 'in'a casing Qhaving rigid'thick walls such as 8. Each of thetwo cores I protrudes through a stuffing box 4 into "an outer housing '5 where they areconnec ted to 3 two individual metallic conductors ll extending through two openings I2 provided in the wall 3.

The repeater illustrated in Fig. 2 has the general appearance of a Pupin pot in that the two cable-ends enter the box containing the several apparatus side by side through the cover, this box being filled with air under low pressure.

Fig. 3 shows the inlet of the two ends of a submarine cable into a flexible repeater housing of a known type; the term flexible repeater being meant to denote a rep-eater having its amplifying apparatus arranged within a flexible envelope, capable of resisting the pressure at the bottom of the sea.

The housing 2! is shown schematically; it is closed at both ends by a rigid thick wall 22 and 23, respectively; the cores 2t and 225 of the cable ends protrude into the outer housings 2B and 2i", respectively, and from here through the walls 22 and 23 into the casing 2 l.

Figs. 4 and 5 each show a flexible repeater casing in which the thick walled envelope capable of resisting the pressure exerted thereon is partially or totally eliminated.

. Before describing these arrangements in more detail it is remarked that the elements constituting the apparatus can be divided in two categories, namely:

(a) Those having an enclosure under vacuum or which must operate in the air; and

(b) Those that are adapted to operate under high pressure.

The first category comprises more particularly the thermionic tubes.

The second category includes, for example, the fixed or adjustable resistance and inductance coils.

Fig. 4 shows a repeater in which the outer housings 26 and 27 for the cable intake are filled with a liquid and are extended in length.

The cores Z l and 25 of the cable ends extend into the outer housings 25 and El, respectively. The edges of each of the bells having thin and flexible walls, delimiting the outer housings, are secured, either to one of the terminal parts 22 and 23 of the low pressure casing M, or to cylindrical tube elements 28 and 30 with thin and flexible walls.

In Fig. 4 the outer housing 26 is extended by two tube elements .28 and 29 and the outer housing 21 by one tube element 36; the edges of the elements 29 and 36 are secured to the terminal parts 22 and 23. The attachment of the edges of the outer housings 26 and 2'! and the tube elements 283l to one another or to the terminal parts 22 and 23, respectively, is accomplished by the element 33 is enclosed in a box or casing 34 having thin and flexible walls and being filled with a liquid that maybe different from the surrounding liquid. 7 The connections of this element 33 protrude into the box 35 and pass through stufiing boxes 35 and 35 which, if required, electrically insulate the connections from the body of the box 34, and prevent a possible mixing of 4 the two liquids being under substantially the same pressure. Only two stufiing boxes are shown in the drawing, but their number may be higher according to the connections extending to element 33.

Interconnecting means 31 and 38 for the various elements of the amplifying apparatus are shown schematically by way of example; the number of these internal connections depends on the wiring diagram of the repeater; they are immersed in the liquid.

Certain of these internal connections protrude into casing 2! through openings 39 and 40 analogous to opening l2 in Fig. 1. The elements of the first category of the amplifying apparatus are arranged in casing 2| filled with air under low pressure.

Fig. 5 shows a repeater devoid of a low pressure casing separating the right and left-hand parts of the repeater.

The cores 24 and 25 protrude into the outer housings 26 and 27 which are interconnected by a tube 28 preferably made in one piece and having thin and flexible walls; its ends are adapted to form the walls of the outer housings 26 and 21. The tube may also be formed by a series of elements such as elements 28, 29 and 30 shown in Fig. 4,

The space enclosed by the walls of the outer housings and the tube is filled with liquid as hereabove mentioned. The elements constituting the amplifying apparatus or the boxes containing some are immersed in this liquid.

In Fig. 5 are shown, by way of example elements of the second catcgcry 3| and 32 immersed directly in the liquid, one element 33 of the second category being enclosed within a thin walled box 3 similar to box 34 (Fig. 4), and two boxes ll and 42 containing elements of the first cate gory adapted to operate in air having a low pressure. section. The boxes 4! and 42 are formed with thick walls capable of resisting the pressure prevailing at the bottom of the sea and filled with air under low pressure. The outer dimensions of the boxes 4| and 42 must be such as to present no obstacle to the deflections of the tube 28 to which the same may be subjected while being placed in position. The connections between the amplifying and other elements pass through the walls of the boxes 4| and 42 by means of openings such as 43 and 44. In the sectional view of the box 42 are shown, by way of example, four connections passing through the wall of the box.

Various internal connections 37, 38 and 39 are shown schematically in Fig. 5.

All internal connections are designed to have a flexibility sufiicient to follow the deflections imparted thereupon by the movements of tube 28. 1

In Figs. 4 and 5, the return conductors are not shown in order to simplify the drawing. They do not enter the outer housings and can be hooked up by means of a metallic connection (not shown) at the outer side of the wall of the casing.

It will be understood that each of the elements described-above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of inlet means for an insulation-covered electric conductor differing from the types described above.

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in an inlet arrangement for an insulation-covered electric conductor forming part of a submarine cable, I do not intend to be limited to the details shown, since various much-'- The box 42 is shown schematically in cross outer housing;

nee s-ab fications --'and structural changesmay-be "acre wibout-departin in anywa from the I spirit-"cf my invention. a I

Without further analysis, the foregoin'g' -will so fully reveal'the gist or-mymventionthat-others can byjap'plying current k-nowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting teatures tlrat, from thes'tandpoint f pric r art fairl-y constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects o'f this invention and; therefore, i'such- -adaptation's" sho c aneam intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the iollewing claims;

What I claim as new and desire to-seci1re -by Letters Patent is l; Inlet means foranfinsulationcovered electric conductor comprising innrbina ion" a 'closedcasing having a wall; ail-inlet o ening in saidwall of said closedca ng; a clesed outer housing having a wall includingafiexibie wall portion and being' tigh't'ly' seeiire'd extenony to said wallnf said closed casing around said inlet opening" in the same; an inlet opening i'n-said wallof said closed outer housing through which th'e end portion of said insulation co'vered'electric oo'nductor tightly passes and protrudesinto said closed'oute'r housing; a metallic conductor portion without outer coveringarranged within said closed oute'r housing electrical-ly connected with said end portion of said insulation-covered electric conductor and protruding throu glr said inlet opening in the wan of said closed casing into the same; and a substantially non-compressible insulating substance enclosed within said closed -outer housing and completely filling. the

same. l

2. Inlet means for an insulation-covered electric conductor comprisingincombination a closed casingv having a wall; a substantially bell' shaped closed outer hous'ng having a "wall including a flexible wall portion and being tightly secured alongits edge to said wall "of said closed casing; an inlet opening in said wall of said closed outer housing through which the. end portion of said insulation-covered electric conductor tightly passes and protrudes into s'aid bell-shaped closed a metallic conductor portion without insulating covering arranged within said closed outer housing, electrically connected with said end portion of said insulation-covered electric conductor and protruding through the wall portion of said closed casing surrounded by said closed outer housing into said closed casing; and a substantially non-compressible insulating substance enclosed within said closed outer housing and completely filling the same.

3. Inlet means for an insulation-covered electric conductor comprising in combination a closed casing having a Wall; a substantially bellshaped closed housing having a wall including a flexible wall portion and being tightly secured along its edge to said wall of said closed casing; an inlet opening in said wall of said closed housing through which said insulation covered electric conductor tightly passes and protrudes into said closed housing, the end portion of said insulation-covered electric conductor within said closed housing having its insulation-covering removed and protruding through the wall portion of said closed casing surrounded by said closed housing into said closed casing; and a substantially non-compressible insulating substance enclosed within said closed housing and completely filling the same.

4. Inlet means for an insulation-covered elec- 6 trie co'nduetoncomprising; combination a cle'sed 'casing having a wall; com rising in-combination an inlet openi ng-in said wall of said closed casing; a closed oute'r housing haivinga wall including a flexiblewall portion and-being tightly secured to said'wall of said closed casing aroundsaid inlet opening inthesame;- 'aninle-t opening in 'saidwall of said closed outerhousing through-Whichsaid insulation-covered electric conductor-tightly passesand protrudes into said-closed'outer housing, the end portion of said insulation-covered electric condu-ctor within said closed-outer housing. having its insulation-cow ering rernoved and 'Jrotru :lin-g through said inlet opening in said wall of said closedcasing into the same; and a substantiallyno'incornpressible insulating substance enclosed within said closed outer housing and completely filling th'e same.

5. An-inlet-arrangement for an insulation-covered electric conductor empnsin iii-combination a closedcasin g having a wall; a fluid-tight inletmeans insaid Wall of saidclesedcasing;

"a closed outer housing having a-wall including a-fleX ible wall portion and beingtightlysecured exteriorly to said wall of said closed-"casing around said fluid-'tight -inlet means -in-- these-me; anamtightinlet means in said wall of said closed outer housing through which the end" portion of said insulation-covered electric conductor protrudes into said closed'insulating housing; a metallic conductor portion without insulating covering arranged within said closedoute'r housi'ng electrically connected with-said end portion of-sa-id insulation-covered electric conductor and protrudingthrough said fluid tight inlet means in the wall of said-closed"casing intothe same; and

a substantially non-=conip'ressible insulating substance enclosed within-said closed outer housing and completely fillingthe same.

6: An inlet arrangement for an-insulation-covered electric conductor comprising incombination a closed casing having a wall; a substantially bell-shaped" closed outer housing having a wall including a flexible wall portion and-being tightly .secur'ed 'along its edge to said wall of said'closed casing; fiuid-tigh't inlet means in said wall of said closed outer housing'through whiclrthe'end portion of said insulation-covered electric conductor protrudes into said bell-shaped closed insulating housing; a metallic conductor portion without insulating covering arranged within said closed outer housing, electrically connected with said end portion of said insulation-covered electric conductor and protruding through the wall portion of said closed casing surrounded by said closed outer housing into said closed casing; and a substantially non-compressible insulating substance enclosed within said closed outer housing and completely filling the same.

7. An inlet arrangement for an insulationcovered electric conductor comprising in combination a closed casing having a wall; fluidtight inlet means in said wall of said closed casing; a closed outer housing having a wall including a flexible wall portion and being tightly secured exteriorly to said wall of said closed casing around said fluid-tight inlet means in the same; fluid-tight inlet means in said wall of said closed outer housing through which said insulation-covered electric conductor protrudes into said closed outer housing, the end portion of said insulation-covered electric conductor within said closed outer housing having its insulation-covering removed and protruding through said fluid-tight inlet means in said wall of said closed casing into the same; and a substantially non-compressible insulating substance enclosed within said closed outer housing and completely filling the same.

8. Inlet means for an insulation-covered electric conductor comprising in combination a closed casing having a pressure resistant Wall an inlet opening in said wall of said cldsed casing; a closed outer housing having a flexible wall and being tightly secured exteriorly to said wall of said closed casing around said inlet opening in the same; an inlet opening in said wall of said closed outer housing through which the end portion of said insulation-covered electric conductor tightly passes and protrudes into said closed outer housing; a metallic conductor portion without insulating covering arranged Within said closed outer housing electrically connected with said end portion of said insulation-covered electric conductor and protruding through said inlet opening in the wall of said closed casing into the same; and a substantially non-compressible insulating substance enclosed within said closed outer housing and completely filling the same.

9. Inlet means for an insulation-covered electric conductor comprising in combination a closed casing having a wall; an inlet opening in said wall of said closed casing; a closed outer housing having a wall including a flexible wall tion-covered electric conductor and protruding through said inlet opening in the wall of said closed easing into the same; a substantially noncompressible insulating substance enclosed within said closed outer housing and completely filling the same; and means for subjecting said substantially non-compressible insulating substance within said closed outer housing substantially to the same pressure as the pressure preedge to said wall of said closed casing; an inlet opening in said wall of said closed compressible outer housing through which the end portion of said insulation-covered electric conductor tightly passes and protrudes into said bell-shaped closed compressible outer housing; a metallic conductor portion without insulating covering arranged within said closed compressible outer housing, electrically connected with said end portion of said insulation-covered electric conductor and protruding through'the wall portion of said closed casing surrounded by said closed compressible outer housing into said closed casing; and a substantially non-compressible insulating substance enclosed within said closed compressible outer housing and completely filling the same, said substantially non-compressible insulating substance being subjected due to the compressibility of said compressible outer housing to substantially the same pressure as the pressure in the medium surrounding said compressible outer housing.

PAUL MARCEL MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 895,978 Dearlove Aug. 11, 1908 1,300,213 Freeman Apr. 8, 1919 1,948,964 Gay Feb. 27, 1934 2,078,219 Burr et a1 Apr. 27, 1937 I FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 220,310 Switzerland July 1, 1942 

